Fox Animation helping Maguire bend “Cardboard”

Fox Animation is optioning the recently published Graphix novel Cardboard, with plans for actor Tobey Maguire’s Material Pictures, graphic novelist Doug TenNapel and the Gotham Group to be executive producers.

Fox plans to have the picture developed under its WedgeWorks subsidiary. WedgeWorks director Chris Wedge (Ice Age) is producing, and is considering directing the film as well.

In TenNapel’s book, a poor widower gives his young son the inadequate birthday present of a cardboard box. The two convert the box into a boxer named Bill that comes to life. This draws the attention of a neighborhood bully who plans something bad.

Maguire, the voice of the lead character in Warner Bros.’ Cats & Dogs, may get the chance to voice one of the main roles in Cardboard if the film proceeds, according to a source close to the project.

Meanwhile, Fox Animation and Blue Sky Studios are in post-production on Wedge’s Epic, a 3D CG-animated action-adventure movie scheduled for release next May.

TenNapel projects being developed also include Ghostopolis at Disney and Monster Zoo at Paramount.